Internal Medicine Interest Group of the Month: University of Virginia School of Medicine
The University of Virginia School of Medicine (UVA) has a strong tradition of sending 20% to 25% of its graduates each year into highly regarded internal medicine residency programs. Club MED, the internal medicine interest group, provides early exposure to internal medicine during the preclerkship curriculum and continues educating in the clinical years as well. We began this year by enrolling over 300 students as ACP Medical Studemt Members. For the past two years, our leadership comprised of one fourth-year and two second-year students. This has increased interclass collaboration and maintained continuity of programming throughout the academic year.
Lunch Talks
Our first lunch talk each year is usually "What is Internal
Medicine?"-our introduction to the specialty. Mitchell Rosner, MD,
Chair of the Department of Medicine, led a successful session about
the basics of internal medicine followed by a twenty minute Q&A
session. In March, Bryan Sauer, MD, presented a talk and case-based
problem solving session in gastroenterology and hepatology that was
also well-attended. We are organizing a cardiology session and plan
to hold it in April 2012. We guide the faculty through designing
their talks to correlate with the study of organ systems in the new
NextGen curriculum, an integrated, systems-based curriculum
recently introduced at UVA.
Panel Discussions
In September, we coordinated an interns and fourth-years discussion
where UVA internal medicine interns advised 15 fourth-year students
about the residency application process. In early March, we
organized the first "Tips for the Internal Medicine Clerkship
Q&A session". This session was intended for rising third-year
students to get advice from current fourth-year students who are
pursuing internal medicine. The fourth-year students provided
information on the daily activities of a general medicine service,
how to study for the shelf examination, and how to get the most out
of their inpatient experience. After Match Day 2012, we hosted a
Fourth-Year Match Panel, at which 10 recently matched fourth-year
students spoke to more than 25 students about residency
applications and interviewing. They also gave recommendations about
fourth-year electives and research. The session was highly praised
and many of the advisees have maintained correspondence with the
panelists.
Community Service
In November, we cosponsored a medical student-organized health
screening at a local homeless shelter. More than 40 students
screened individuals for hypertension and diabetes. Information was
also available regarding relevant nutritional information, smoking
cessation, and the UVA's financial assistance program for patients.
Students measured vital signs, tested point-of-care hemoglobin A1c
levels, and counseled individuals regarding their risk for
hypertension and diabetes.
On March 10, 17 students participated in the UVA Division of Nephrology's annual community kidney screening at the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Our club advisor, Dr. Balogun, is a nephrologist and was instrumental in helping us organize this great opportunity. Students, nurses, physicians, and other volunteers from the community joined together to help evaluate individuals for signs of kidney disease. Students helped with vitals and blood glucose measurements. Both community health screenings served as excellent opportunities for medical students to interact with the local community and to directly help people with less access to health care.
State ACP Activities
The ACP Virginia Chapter meeting was held in Charlottesville this
year, which gave UVA students the fantastic opportunity to attend.
Three third-year students represented UVA against three other state
allopathic and osteopathic medical schools and led us to our second
straight Medical Jeopardy! state championship. Other students who
attended were able to learn from lectures presented by prominent
clinicians and hear from a panel of state residency program
directors.
The 2011-2012 academic year was a very busy and productive one for Club MED, and we hope to build on this energy and expand our efforts in the coming years to serve our fellow students, faculty, and the field of internal medicine.
Nosheen Reza, Sandra Hobson, and Troy Sukhu
UVA School of Medicine Club MED
Internal Medicine Interest Group Copresidents